She has served as managing director of the healthcare communications agency’s European headquarters since 2013 and has now been appointed managing director, Asia-Pacific.

Jones said: "The opportunity for GCI Health to play a meaningful role in the fast-evolving Asian healthcare markets via the combination of our global culture and local expertise is hugely exciting.

"The region has very specific communications needs and opportunities which we look forward to more fully servicing via our footprint expansion."

In her new role she will continue to report to GCI Health CEO Wendy Lund and brings previous local Asia-Pacific experience to her new remit, having previously spent time with Lilly, Edelman and Weber Shandwick in Australia.

Meanwhile, Kath Kerry will take on sole leadership responsibilities for the WPP agency in the UK, having served as a managing director in London for two and a half years, and continue to report into Lund.

GCI’s Asia-Pacific plans will see it headquartered in Singapore as local capabilities are built across the region, with a focus on life sciences, market access communications, strategic consulting and consumer wellness.

The agency said its expansion was driven by the agency’s growing international client base and increased work in the region.

Wendy Lund added: "With Asian healthcare systems and markets rapidly evolving, the need for specialist agency expertise does too. As a health dedicated agency with an established, deep and diverse presence in the Americas and Europe, the time is right to expand our local capability in Asia.

"Rikki is an exceptional and passionate leader with an incredible record of building teams renowned for client service excellence. I’m thrilled to have her heading our Asia-Pacific business."

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